While some HR departments got through the past year relatively unscathed, many have had to conduct layoffs, keep employees happy when they haven’t had a raise in more than a year, and all while their own departments and budgets have been slashed.

Each year, HRhero asks its readers about their HR departments and how they have changed in the past year. This year, like in 2009, many of our survey respondents reported they had faced very difficult challenges.

One survey respondent described their HR department as “. . . the ‘punching bag’ for the company.” Others have seen an increase in terminated employees filing discrimination claims.

But there are others who have weathered the storm without major changes and are holding steady or even hiring.